# Delhi High Court Acquits Man, Says POCSO Presumption Is Not Automatic 2026-08-06T22:06:18+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Delhi High Court has acquitted a man convicted under the POCSO Act and IPC, ruling that Section 29’s presumption of guilt does not arise merely because an accused faces trial under the law. LiveLaw reports that Justice Madhu Jain said the prosecution must first prove the alleged offence through reliable and cogent evidence before the burden shifts to the accused. The case involved a 17-year-old who went missing in August 2023 and was later found with the appellant in Ambala. Her police statement said she had gone voluntarily, but later statements alleged threats and sexual assault. The court found material inconsistencies and unexplained investigative lapses, including the failure to identify the alleged crime scene. It ordered his release unless wanted in another case. ## Coverage - livelaw.in Tags: criminal justice, Delhi High Court, POCSO Act, sexual offences Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-high-court-acquits-man-says-pocso-presumption-is-not-automatic/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/delhi-high-court-acquits-man-says-pocso-presumption-is-not-automatic/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.